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Lashley TKOs the RKO

ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley has been in Mr. McMahon’s crosshairs
since he accepted Donald Trump’s offer to represent him against The
Chairman’s Umaga at WrestleMania 23’s Battle of the
Billionaires. Tonight on ECW on Sci Fi, Lashley overcame yet another
challenge by the egomaniacal billionaire, but this time with the
inadvertent help of the bickering Rated-RKO.

On the heels of Lashley’s vow to break Mr. McMahon in half –
and his Rated-RKO tag team partner’s qualification for the Money in
the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania – Edge approached McMahon on
Raw and volunteered Randy Orton’s services in teaching the ECW World
Champion a lesson. But Edge, who is also competing in the Money in the Bank
Match, appeared to have ulterior motives. He persuaded McMahon to include a
stipulation that Orton would lose his WrestleMania spot if he failed to
show up for the match.

Orton was outraged, but showed up for the encounter with Lashley. He
demanded that Edge give him backup in his match. Edge insisted he had
Orton's back, but hardly did anything to help his former World Tag Team
Champion partner.

The Rated-R Superstar was ejected for blatant interference in front of the
referee halfway into the match. He flashed a curious, devious grin as he
left ringside, sparking speculation that perhaps he may have gotten himself
ejected on purpose.

The momentum between ECW World Champion and Orton briefly swung back and
forth. The cocky Orton, angered by Edge's ejection, channeled his
frustration to take the advantage over Lashley, but the valiant champion
battled back and finished Orton off with his trademark Dominator running
powerslam.

Lashley's victory brought out a seething Mr. McMahon and the two engaged in
an intense staredown at the close of ECW on Sci Fi. What else will the evil
billionaire have up his sleeve as he continues to make Lashley's life a
living hell before WrestleMania? (WATCH)

While Edge and Orton will battle six other Superstars at WrestleMania for a
World Championship opportunity, the ECW Originals will be fighting for
their survival against the New Breed. In a precursor to their Eight-Man Tag
Team Match at sports-entertainment’s greatest spectacle, the two
factions faced off in a Battle Royal on ECW on Sci Fi. Tommy Dreamer
emerged victorious, overcoming a two-on-one advantage at the end in favor
of two of the New Breed's most cunning members, Elijah Burke and Matt
Striker. But the real boost for the ECW Originals came after the
match.

Hardcore Legend-turned-bestselling author Mick Foley came to ECW on Sci Fi
and endorsed the Originals. Foley initially didn't receive a warm welcome
from Dreamer, Sandman, Sabu and Rob Van Dam, who believed he was there only
to promote his new book, The Hardcore Diaries.

But Foley – who battled with and alongside the four
men as Cactus Jack in the original ECW and is credited with bringing
hardcore to WWE – said he didn't come to ECW on Sci Fi to just plug
his new book. He came to see what was going on between the
Originals and the New Breed firsthand. Their matchup at WrestleMania, he
said, is more than a turf war. It is a battle for the legacy and future of
ECW.

“You guys have the chance to perform in front of 70,000 people,"
Foley said. "But you will have 70,001 people watching you that night. I
will squeeze my fat ass in one of the seats in the upper deck at Ford Field
and will raising my hand as I chant these letters with the rest of the
people: E-C-W, E-C-W, E-C-W!" (WATCH)

The New Breed continues to look for reinforcements as WrestleMania
approaches, and their most coveted prospect is undoubtedly CM Punk. Elijah
Burke approached Punk with a proposal to join the New Breed for a second
consecutive week. Though Punk seemed initially hostile to the offer, Burke
is finding more ways to entice the straightedge Superstar. (WATCH)

Meanwhile, Snitsky has shown that he walks alone as he has wreaked havoc in
the Land of the Extreme. He has attacked any and all ECW Superstars in
random attacks for several weeks; no one has been safe. This week, Snitsky
demolished two poor souls in his first sanctioned match on ECW on Sci Fi,
continuing his path of rage.